The Importance of Being Safe Online

 By Kailee Boyle

The importance of safe social media practice starts with understanding that victims can be found in any part of the world. My first time using social media was in 2019 when I felt my most curious about the virtual world. I didn’t know that danger was less than a mile away from my house and that is how I got involved with “H”. “H” found me on Snapchat’s Quick Adds and I was drawn to the attention he gave me. He asked for my age (at the time, I was 12) and he told me he was 18. When we first started talking, he sounded like he could be my new best friend, but I quickly found that he had different interests. A few weeks after we started talking, my parents found text messages that were inappropriate for any young child to receive, and a police investigation started. By mid-2020, “H” was arrested for Online Solicitation of a Minor.

Since 2020, the court process had been slow to determine if “H” was guilty of any wrongdoing. I attended counseling sessions to help me cope with the situation and now understand that what happened wasn’t okay and that the things he said and did were unacceptable for his age. All the while, I learned not to blame myself for his wrongdoing because he was an adult, not me. As a victim, I have been given a stronger voice to know when something is consensual, and “H” does not have power over me. After 5 long years of what it felt, I finally gained justice. We attended court and without me knowing who he was I ended up sitting in the row behind him. When I realized that was him a blood rush of emotions ran through my body. Watching the person who has made me a victim, and left me with trauma plead guilty, it felt like a weight off of my shoulders. I was so glad that the lengthy investigation process was over. The person who brought me emotion and physiological issues such as Depression, Anxiety, and Trauma was finally getting what he deserved. It took me 3 years of self-reflection and counseling to understand what happened wasn’t my fault and my mission is to prevent other children from feeling like they are stuck in a tunnel. Even though victims just want the process to end, it feels like the light at the end of the tunnel never comes until one day, it does.

What I’ve learned is that once the damage is done, there’s no taking it back and actions require consequences on both sides of the courtroom. As a victim, I must relive my 5-year-old experience each time I speak about it. I want to be the voice for teens on safe social media practice, where I will educate them on the dangers of online solicitation and help them find their voices to speak up and say no to those who may be a predator just waiting for their next victim.

Here are some steps you can take to prevent becoming a victim of online solicitation.

1. Be cautious of who you are friending on any social media site.

2. If someone becomes suspicious or strange to you then remove them immediately and block them from all platforms.

3. If you are receiving inappropriate messages, images, etc then tell an adult right away.

4. It is best to keep your social media accounts private.

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Kailee Boyle is the current Miss West Texas' Teen, and this post is part of her CSI. You can find her on her title's Instagram.

Six Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting Pageantry

 By Isabella Williams 

1. The Sisterhood Is Real
   Forget the stereotypes! In a world of glitz, judges, fees, and unspoken rules, your fellow contestants can become your greatest allies. Sure, it’s easy to think of everyone as competition, but the truth is, only one person will take home the crown. The experience is about so much more than winning—it's about growing as a person. You’ll walk away with gifts like new friends, improved communication skills, marketing know-how, and a network of inspiring people.

2. Social Media is Your Secret Weapon
   Think of your social media as your personal billboard! What do you want the world to know about you? Use it to showcase your passions, your journey, and your sparkle. It’s like having an extra stage to shine on—and the best part? It’s all about YOU!

3. Comfortable Shoes Can Be a Game-Changer
   No matter how stunning your walk is, the wrong pair of shoes can ruin it. Blisters or painful heels will make it obvious you’re uncomfortable on stage. Invest in a pair of killer but comfy heels, and your body language will scream confidence and ease. Trust me, comfort wins crowns!

4. Fundraising is Your Friend
   If you need to raise money for your pageant journey or a cause, social media is your best ally. Offer local businesses a donation tax slip and a shoutout on your social platforms—it’s a win-win! And when it comes to saving money, learn to do your own hair and makeup. Mastering these skills not only saves cash but ensures you look flawless on your own terms.

5. Competition Week = No Sleep Club
   Prepare yourself for sleepless nights! The adrenaline, excitement, and nerves are a natural part of the experience. Start building a self-care routine beforehand to manage the chaos. Rest when you can, hydrate, and find ways to calm your mind so you’re ready to shine under the spotlight.

6. Bring Your Authentic Self
   Judges aren’t just looking for perfection—they’re looking for personality! Don’t be afraid to let your unique quirks and charisma shine through. Whether it’s in your interviews, your walk, or your social media, authenticity is what makes you unforgettable. The crown may sparkle, but it’s your real self that truly shines!

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Isabella Williams is the current Miss Lake Champlain (Vermont). You can find her on her title's Instagram and/or her personal Instagram. She is the author of several books, and the illustrator of the recent release The Fire Within You.

To learn more about Isabella, feel free to check out her Interview with Section 36.

I Hereby Resolve...

Typically, the end of the year is a time for people to reflect on their life, and to make any changes they see the need for. Why do it for the first of the year? No particular reason. Although, I suppose, a July 2 Resolution doesn’t have the same ring to it. A New Year’s Resolution also has the added benefit of only occurring once a year. If you make a New Month Resolution, and fail after three days…you have some obligation to make the same resolution the next month. If you make a resolution on January 1, but flop by January 2, you can wait an entire year before you have to try and make yourself a better person. That’s a handy feature. People also find it nicer to write these resolutions down. Anything written down automatically has more weight. After all, if you take the time to type it out and share it with others, it must be important. Plus, anyone why knows about your resolution will obviously shun you if you don’t stick to it. If you make a resolution in silence, it’s pretty easy to ignore it. Of course, that presumes that anyone is listening, or cares enough to hold you to it. That’s probably not the case here. But, what else am I going to write about on January 1st? 

My main resolution really requires you to all help along. I really want to be able to share more guest blogs from all of you in 2025. While the writing and sending part depends on you, there are some things I can do to help you along with that.

I want to work on making this a place where you're more likely to want to write a blog for. Starting with viewership. I want to make a dedicated effort to make sure as many eyes as possible are on your posts when you write them. Whether that's with promotion or persistence, I need to get moving. The Instagram account passing 2000 followers is a result of similar efforts on that front. I'd like to do similar things here.

I also want to be more visible elsewhere in the titleholder landscape. Whether that's following and commenting on social media, or reading and commenting on websites and blogs, or whatever else it may be. Part of that is, simply, those things are worthy of my support. The other part is just making Section 36 Forevers more of a community that you'll love being a part of. Feel free to offer suggestions on that front and ways I can support you.

So, there we go. Things I want to try and do in the coming year. If you care, feel free to try and keep me honest. Mocking comments if I’m going astray are encouraged. Or, help me out by contributing to the resolutions. Or both. Or, ignore it all completely. Your call.

Happy New Year Everyone!

2024 In Review: Status of the Blog

So, I've already discussed some of the highlights in social media areas enjoyed by Section 36 Forevers in 2024. But, what about just generally? How did the blog perform in 2024 at just being a blog? How did I do as a blogger? Did I help titleholders share their stories? Was this a place where people can learn abot the amazing things they're up to?

In 2024 this will be my 25th post, down a bit from last year. But, still solid at a post every couple weeks. This year I also focused a lot more on posting titleholder guest blogs without adding my own fluff posts in-between. Hopefully that allowed the titleholders to shine!

I am constantly honored to be allowed to share so many guest blogs. It's such an important part of what I'm doing here with the "for titleholders by titleholders" sort of feel. It's so wonderful to share the thoughts and views from so many different places.
With the discussion of blogs, I need to once again give a speical shoutout to Arianna Shanks-Hill. Her powerful blogs on domestic violence are always a must read. Also, a huge shoutout to newcomer Hannah Karki. She has already sbmitted several blogs, and I can't wait to hear more from her. She joined quite a long list of first-time guest bloggers in 2024, which is incredible to see. There have been posts remembering Miss America, reflecting on a titleholder's reign, introducing business ventures, discussing CSIs, and so...much...more. Can't wait to see these posts grow in 2025. If you'd like to write a titleholder guest blog of your own, on almost any topic, please reach out!

And don't forget the Section 36 store! I love seeing titleholders showing off their favorite merch! Do you have any yet?

Looking back on 2024, I'm thrilled with the content and progress of this here blog and could not be more excited about the future. The blog had that rebrand a couple years ago, and I was really able to grab onto that in 2024, by focusing on the titleholders and really creating a lifestyle blog where titleholders could share their stories.

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog in 2024 as much as I did putting it out there for you.

I hope you'll enjoy 2025 just as much.

And I hope you'll consider writing a guest blog!

2024 Year in Review: Social Media

If the goal of this blog is to help promote the amazing female artists in the New England area, it really can't be just a blog. To reach a larger audience, to tell more people about these amazing artists, I need to be in more places.

Enter Social Media.

I need to be where the people are. And they all seem to be there. So, where, exactly, can you find me? I'm glad you asked...

Instagram is probably the place I’ve seen the most movement in the past year. It’s been great connecting with titleholders and visitors through that site. I use that account to post any and all pictures that have been submitted by my guest bloggers and interview guests. Maybe they were pictures that went along with their blogs, or extras that couldn’t fit with the blog. Or, they’re pictures that have been submitted afterwards. Whatever the case, I post them and use them to remind people of their contribution. It’s fun because it adds a lot of different content to the feed. That account had a big 2024 as it crossed the magical 2000 follower mark! 

Facebook provides fun opportunities. It posts links to titleholder guest blogs and interviews, as well as any pictures Forevers have submitted. It has also started posting pictures of any titleholders with Section 36 gear, whether they’ve contributed or not. The number of people who like that page continued to grow in 2024.

While Twitter was once a mainstay, that is no longer the case. Sure, blogs are sometimes automatically shared to X (bleh) because it's so easy to do. But, I don't remember the last time I posted there.

I have made the switch, like many others to BlueSky. While I haven't built up my following there, It's a work in progress. One thing that makes it different, is that there's only one account for all of the Section 36 Suite. So, sports, sportscards, lifestyle, music, etc all in one place. Something for everyone, if you will.

Section 36 Forevers also has a presence TikTok, Snapchat, and Pinterest. Although TikTok is the only one I've used with any frequency lately. Much like BlueSky, those are all one account for the entire Suite.

With all those ways to connect with Section 36 Forevers, there should be plenty of ways to share the amazing things my visitors are doing. I can't want to bring that to a much larger scale.

“The Fire Within You” Book Launch Inspires Self-Acceptance and Anti-Bullying Advocacy

In a powerful new release, The Fire Within You, author Hannah Karki offers an inspiring message of self-empowerment, anti-bullying activism, and unapologetic self-love. The book, which is now available for purchase, encourages readers of all ages to embrace their unique identities, stand tall against bullying, and recognize the power that lies within their true selves.

The Fire Within You delivers a timely and impactful narrative, combining personal stories, motivational insights, and practical advice. With a focus on overcoming adversity, it highlights how bullying can affect individuals mentally and emotionally, while also offering a roadmap to healing and self-pride. The book emphasizes that everyone has an inner fire—an innate strength that can overcome even the harshest of challenges.

“I wrote The Fire Within You as a reminder that no one should ever dim their light to fit in. We all face struggles, but by embracing who we are, we can find the courage to rise above and stand strong against bullying,” says Hannah Karki. “This book is for anyone who has ever been made to feel small, who has ever questioned their worth, or who has ever been told they don’t belong. The truth is, we all belong, and we all have an incredible light to share with the world.”

The Book’s Key Themes Include:

    Anti-Bullying: How to identify bullying, cope with its effects, and advocate for change in communities and schools.

    Self-Identity and Pride: A call for embracing one’s true self, regardless of societal pressures or expectations.

    Resilience and Empowerment: Stories of overcoming adversity, with practical tips for building inner strength and confidence.

    Inspiring Change: Encouraging readers to be allies in the fight against bullying, fostering kindness, empathy, and inclusion.

About the Author:
Hannah Karki is an advocate for mental health, self-empowerment, and bullying prevention. She is also the reigning Teen Petite USA, a national title, with other achievements like winning Teen New England Petite and running a mental health non-profit, SafeSpaceSuicidePrevention, which she started when she was 14. With a background in special education, music education, and psychology, which she is taking at the University of Vermont, she has dedicated her life to spreading messages of hope and resilience. Through writing, speaking engagements, and workshops,  Hannah aims to inspire individuals of all ages to rise above adversity and confidently embrace their unique selves.

For more information about The Fire Within You, or to schedule an interview with Hannah Karki, please contact:

Email: hannahmkarki@gmail.com
Social Media: hannah.karki, teenpetiteusaofficial, teenewenglandpetite on instagram and Hannah Karki on Facebook

About the Book:

The Fire Within You is now available for purchase through major booksellers and online platforms. Join the movement to empower yourself and others, and help bring an end to bullying with one powerful story at a time.

Happy Festivus!

That’s right, today’s the day! As you can see, I’ve set out my aluminum pole and am ready for the festivities to begin!

While it’s kinda hard to do feats of strength on a blog, we can certainly air some grievances! I’ve even started with the first one. I would definitely rather be in Section 36 right now!

Now it’s your turn. I’m taking this opportunity to allow you to air your blog-related grievances! That’s right. Leave a comment telling me things you don’t like about the blog and its content!

Is the font too small? Too big? Are the sidebars too plain? Too cluttered? Do I write about a topic too much? Do you wish I wrote about a topic more? At all? All with no hard feelings on my part. This is your chance!

I know. Allowing the internet to complain about you can be scary. But, maybe I’ll be able to respond to the grievances and make the blog better for everyone!

One thing by way of rules, this is Section 36 asking for grievances. So, keep them to things about the blog and its content...not blog post subjects. So if you want to complain and say there are too many days without posts, or too few, that’s fine. If you complain and tell me a guest blogger sucked, that’s not fine and I'll delete your comment. That’s not what I’m going for.

Sound reasonable? Ok then. Let’s hear it.

What are your Section 36 related grievances?